Mo Kasti's path to healthcare leadership was anything but ordinary. Growing up during the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, Kasti found himself in a constant struggle for survival. However, his determination and resilience led him to the U.S., where he pursued his passion for medicine at Case Western Reserve University. After completing his medical training, Kasti's career took an unexpected turn when he joined GE Healthcare. During his 10-year tenure at GE, Kasti learned the power of leadership development and how to apply best practices like Lean Six Sigma and succession planning.
Founding the Healthcare Leadership Institute
Inspired by his experiences at GE, Kasti saw an opportunity to take those leadership principles and apply them to the healthcare industry. "I had the fortune to partner with an incoming dean, Dean (Stephen) Klasko at the University of South Florida, and he said, ‘Join me. Let's really transform the way we select and train and educate,'" Kasti explains. This collaboration led to the creation of the Healthcare Leadership Institute, which Kasti describes as the "best kept secret" and the largest provider of leadership training and coaching in the U.S.
Transforming Healthcare Education and Development
At the core of the Healthcare Leadership Institute's mission is the belief that leadership should be developed from day one in healthcare, rather than solely focusing on technical skills. The institute's approach involves working with healthcare organizations as a private label provider, applying GE's leadership principles and methodologies to transform the way healthcare professionals are educated and developed. "When we work with organizations that are very large, they have different needs versus an organization that's rural, so we will customize it to that," Kasti explains.
Creating a Coaching Culture in Healthcare
One of the key focus areas for the Healthcare Leadership Institute is the development of a coaching culture within healthcare organizations. "Coaching in healthcare is still an emerging area,” Kasti says. He emphasizes that coaching should be seen as a performance tool, similar to how it is used in sports, rather than a remedial measure. To address this mindset, Kasti highlights the importance of building relationships with employees and understanding their career aspirations.
Addressing Burnout and Stress in Healthcare
In addition to his work on leadership development, Kasti has also been involved in addressing the growing issue of burnout and stress among healthcare professionals. Through the Healthcare Leadership Institute's virtual health services, Mo and his team have developed the "Hassle Factor Index," which focuses on identifying and removing the complexities that cause stress and burnout." We created something we called hassle factor index, and the term is really about what's in your way to get the job done.”
Through his work at the institute, Kasti is on a mission to transform healthcare education and development by applying the leadership principles he learned at GE. As Kasti explains, "When you find your passion, you don't have a job anymore." By creating a coaching culture and addressing the root causes of burnout and stress, Kasti aims to empower healthcare professionals to become more effective leaders and improve patient outcomes. His unique perspective and innovative approach offer valuable insights for healthcare leaders looking to cultivate stronger leadership within their own organizations.
Kasti prepares to share his expertise at the upcoming MGMA Leaders Conference in Denver, giving healthcare leaders an exciting opportunity to learn from his experiences and implement strategies to drive positive change in their practices.
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